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Energy crisis a continuing
concern for California Indians.
Leaders of tribes, energy industry, and government to meet at SFSU Jan. 30-31.
January 23, 2004
Click
here for Agenda.
CILS, along
with the California Energy Commission and
San Francisco
State
University
is sponsoring a conference
focused on energy and California Indian tribes.
The conference will be held on January 30th and 31st
at
San Francisco
State
University
.
Rotating black-outs and
questionable financial practices have made the energy crisis in
California
well-known. It has impacted virtually every
aspect of
California
's legislative debates, economy, and development
requirements and it continues to effect all aspects of public debates over
energy development needs and the long-term challenges of responsible use and
conservation. What is not well-understood is how these issues impact California
Indian tribes.
To examine the impact of the energy crisis on California Indians,
San Francisco
State
University
's American Indian Studies Department will
sponsor a two-day symposium featuring representatives from California Indian
tribes and tribal organizations, the energy industry, and government regulatory
agencies.
Discussions at the symposium will cover topics such as the proposed national
energy bill,
California
energy law, the protection of sacred sites and
energy development, supply and demand issues regarding conservation, electricity
rebates and tribal gaming, state and federal incentive programs for renewable
energy options, and the federal hydropower relicensing process.
"The issues of energy and California Indians are complex and diverse,"
said Joanne Barker, assistant professor of American Indian Studies at SFSU and
faculty organizer of the symposium. "While the media focuses its attentions
on American Indian issues in
California
on tribes with gaming, many more are either
completely without a land base or do not have access to the state's energy grid,
cable or phone, running water, or paved roads. This symposium will address the
complexities of energy use and development needs for the diversity of California
Indians. It will provide a forum for tribal, industry, and government
representatives to discuss issues ranging from sacred site protection to
renewable energy options to rebate and upgrade programs for gaming tribes."
Barker, an expert on American Indian law and politics, is planning the symposium
with Darcie Houck, a staff attorney for the California Energy Commission in Sacramento, and Michael Pfeffer, executive director of
California Indian Legal Services in Oakland
.
Speakers and panelists appearing at the symposium will include leading experts
on energy issues facing
California
's Indians and Indians in neighboring states.
Keynote addresses will be given by Deron Marquez, tribal chairman of the San
Manuel Band of Mission Indians and an alumni of San Francisco State University;
Joe Shirley, Jr., president of the Navajo Nation; and A. David Lester, Executive
Director of the Council for Energy Resource Tribes.
Participants include Clarence Atwell, chair of the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi
Yokut Tribe; Mark Macarro, chair of the Pechanga Tribe; Alfreda Mitre of the
Southern Paiute Tribe; Larry Myers, executive secretary of the California Native
American Heritage Commission; John Nash of the Tule River Tribe; J.D. Williams
of the Office of Legal Counsel of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation; Manuel Alvarez, director of strategic policy and regulation for
Southern California Edison; and, Jim McKinney of the California Resources
Agency.
The symposium's sponsors include the California Energy Commission, California
Indian Law Association, California Indian Legal Services, the Navajo Nation, and
the American Indian law firms of Holland & Knight and Monteau & Peebles.
The registration fee for the symposium is $75 for individuals and $200 for those
who wish to receive MCLE credit. For more information, call Joanne Barker at
(415) 338-2013 or visit the symposium web site at www.sfsu.edu/~cies/
(opens new window).
Click
here for Agenda.
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